Coming off of a Super Bowl victory by the Broncos, a playoff appearance by the Chiefs, and a near miss by the Raiders, there were big expectations for the AFC West in 2016. Spoiler alert, they delivered. Despite the Broncos taking a step back, Kansas City and Oakland stepped up with a whopping 12 wins each. Ultimately, with three of the four teams in the division finishing with a record over .500, the AFC West ended up being one of the best divisions in football last season. Headed into 2017, expectations remain high. In order to once again deliver, collectively they need to draft well. Luckily this division is flush with picks, including 10 each for Denver and Kansas City.
The AFC West is now on the clock…
Denver Broncos
2016 Record: 9-7
2017 Draft Picks: 20, 51, 82, 101, 126, 177, 203, 238, 252, 253
As I said, after winning the Super Bowl in 2015, Denver took an expected step back in 2016. They lost Peyton Manning along with ample defensive contributors, so their dip in production was understandable. Having said that, it is tough for this organization to accept a rebuilding process, so expect them to be very aggressive in this upcoming draft.
Below I have narrowed down their top needs to the following positions in descending order, ranked by importance:
| Offensive Tackle, Tight End, Center, Wide Receiver, Cornerback, Inside Linebacker |
It is no secret that the Broncos biggest roster flaw is on their offensive line. Despite having a couple of Super Bowl appearances including a championship over the last few years, this is actually an issue that has plagued them for the better half of the last five years. For this reason, I believe that the Broncos have to go offensive line in the first round of the draft. Their best fit will be the best offensive tackle in the class – Ryan Ramczyk out of Wisconsin. Ramczyk is well built, ultra-athletic, and technically sound; all the makings of a future Pro Bowl left tackle.
Onto the second, and again they will address the offense. In this class, the second round seems to be a sweet spot for playmakers, so adding a tight end or wideout would be in Denver’s best interests. Players in consideration include (TE) Adam Shaheen out of Ashland, Gerald Everett out of South Alabama, (TE/WR) Evan Engram out of Ole Miss, (WR) Chad Hansen out of Cal, and Zay Jones out of East Carolina. Considering the nature of this draft class, the Broncos would likely be best served going tight end in the second and waiting on a wideout until the third, so any of the three tight ends listed above would be good fits. Shaheen and Everett are more the traditional mold, while Engram’s hybrid skillset would give the Broncos offense a new identity.
While the receivers listed above are likely to be off the board by the time Denver is back on the clock in the third, there are going to still be plenty of wideouts left who best fit what they are looking for. Considering the quality outside receivers that Denver already has (Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders), adding a reliable slot receiver is going to be best for them in the third round. My favorite option is UNC’s Ryan Switzer who’s game resembles a combination of Cole Beasley and Jarvis Landry, however other options include Dede Westbrook out of Oklahoma, Carlos Henderson out of Louisiana Tech, and Taywan Taylor out of Western Kentucky.
In Chris Harris, the Broncos have the best slot corner in the NFL. In Bradley Roby, the Broncos have one of the best backups at the position in the league. Aqib Talib is a stud on the outside, however the Broncos would like to add another player who can learn the position across from Talib. When needed, Harris is still an excellent option on the outside, as is Bradley Roby, but both do their best work in the slot. With their second third rounder, the Broncos will be afforded the opportunity to make a strength even stronger; a luxury pick if you will. Expect them to add a corner with length who can properly handle himself on the outside here. Players to keep in mind include Teez Tabor out of Flordia, Cordrea Tankersley out of Clemson, Ahkello Witherspoon out of Colorado, and Rasul Douglas out of West Virginia.
While the Broncos will have addressed the offensive line in the first, they still will need more help. Center is also a glaring hole on their roster, so the fourth round appears to be a good place for them to upgrade. Tyler Orlosky out of West Virginia is currently ranked as the second best center in this draft, he fits the pick range, and most importantly he fits the Broncos scheme. It has been reported that Denver is moving away from the zone running scheme, and will instead move to a power run game identity. For that to take place, a powerful center is needed to set the tone at the point of attack. Orlosky specializes in trench warfare and hand fighting, something that is desperately needed to establish a formidable power running scheme. A great value pick for Denver here.
While their defense is fantastic, that doesn’t mean that Denver is perfect on that side of the ball. Adding another linebacker would be a huge help for them going forward, so the fifth round seemed appropriate to give them some depth at the position. Connor Harris out of Lindenwood came to mind as a fit in this range, so I’m going to stick with it.
With their remaining late round picks (one 6th rounder and three 7th rounders), overall roster depth is likely to be added, as there typically aren’t many starters available in that range. Expect at least one more offensive lineman to be added, while a developmental quarterback should be considered as well, as the Broncos only have two currently signed to the roster (Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch). A name I keep hearing in that range is Iowa’s C.J. Beathard.
Kansas City Chiefs
2016 Record: 12-4
2017 Draft Picks: 27, 59, 91, 104, 132, 170, 180, 216, 218, 245
Coming off of 12 wins last year, it is tough to look at this roster and not see it as one of the most complete in the league. Having said that, just like every other team in the league, Kansas City can use some added depth all around. Beyond that, they may be looking towards the future on offense in terms of adding impact playmakers and replacement for Alex Smith.
Below I have narrowed down their top needs to the following positions in descending order, ranked by importance:
| Defensive Line, Running Back, Edge, Wide Receiver, Quarterback, Inside Linebacker |
A little sneak peak into my upcoming mock draft 3.0; I no longer think that Clemson’s Mike Williams is going to fall into the laps of Kansas City at 27. Instead, I believe that they will let the board play out and take the best defensive lineman available when they are put on the clock. Taco Charlton out of Michigan is a guy who makes sense in that range and for their defense, as he has the ability to play multiple positions along the defensive front, including the Chiefs base 5-tech defensive end. He will fit there well and bring an explosive edge to an already good front seven.
With the loss of Jamaal Charles this offseason, the Chiefs need an upgrade at the running back position, regardless of the solid job that Spencer Ware did in Charles’ absence. Ideally they would replace him with a guy who offers what Charles did in terms of explosiveness and formidability in the passing game. Despite his baggage, Joe Mixon out of Oklahoma best fits the Chiefs wanted ad at the position. Many consider him as this class’ top back, while he is equally as good as a receiver out of the backfield as he is running between the tackles. Say what you will about his history, but this would undoubtedly be an incredible value for a generational back. If Mixon is off of their board – for more than understandable reasons – then Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara would be a nice alternative who offers a similar skillset.
Because the Chiefs have two third round picks, they can afford to take a chance and grab a quarterback. Based off of my rankings, Davis Webb out of Cal is a player who may be available, despite his boasting of several teams telling him he is a top-10 player. According to my notes, Webb may fit this KC system well because he excels at the short to intermediate throws and is not exactly comfortable airing it out – despite his strong arm. His build is good and his footwork is even better, while he has excellent touch on his back shoulder fades and placement throws. The Chiefs may end up having something here if Webb is available in the third.
With their extra third round selection, the Chiefs should address one of their more pressing needs – wide receiver. Outside of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, it feels like this roster has grown stale at the playmaker spot. A player like Zay Jones out of East Carolina should remedy that issue, as his do-it-all skillset could facelift a less than explosive offense. His experience as a high-volume target (NCAA career leader in receptions with 399) would also give the Chiefs a more reliable option in the passing game – short or long – as currently they don’t have a player who fits that bill.
In a 3-4 defense you need two capable inside linebackers to start. As of right now, the Chiefs only have one – Derrick Johnson – and he is aging quickly. In the fourth, the Chiefs should address this issue and take Florida’s Alex Anzalone. If this were to work out for them, the Chiefs would have to throw a party, as Anzalone is a first round player with a fourth rounder’s injury history. He has proven to stay healthy throughout the pre-draft process, so this would be a fingers crossed type of scenario. Once drafted, Anzalone would be a plug and play at the weakside MLB position, while he would also offer some edge capabilities if asked to play there in some sub-packages. With his ferocity and athleticism, Kansas City would be getting a steal in the fourth round here.
In the final three rounds, the Chiefs have five picks. Having filled most of their needs already, overall depth is where they are likely to go. In consideration for the late round selections would be an offensive lineman or two, a cornerback, and versatile backup safety. I like Louisiville’s (S) Josh Harvey-Clemons, (OL) Zach Banner out of USC, (OT) Adam Bisnowaty out of Pittsburgh, and as always, Maryland’s (CB) William Likely.
Los Angeles Chargers
2016 Record: 5-11
2017 Draft Picks: 7, 38, 71, 113, 151, 190, 225
The Chargers may have disappointed last season, but they sure hit a home run in the draft with Joey Bosa. This season – now in a new city – they plan on doing the same thing by making the most of their top-10 selection.
Below I have narrowed down their top needs to the following positions in descending order, ranked by importance:
| Safety, Offensive Line, Wide Receiver, Cornerback, Defensive Line, Inside Linebacker |
After taking Joey Bosa in the first round last season and knocking the pick out of the park, is it crazy to think that they would go back to the Ohio State well again in the top-10 of this draft?
Safety Malik Hooker may be just what the doctor ordered, as his single-high ball-hawking abilities fit exactly what this rebuilding Chargers defense is looking for. Some are giving him Ed Reed comparisons, and while that is too rich for my blood, I see where some scouts are coming from. Essentially he has a combination of unteachable instincts all-world athleticism, which makes him a generational talent. Combined with last year’s Joey Bosa pick, the addition of Malik Hooker may turn a home run into a grand slam.
The injury to Keenan Allen last season exposed the Chargers need for a legitimate number two receiver. Picking early in the second round, the newly named LA Chargers would ideally find a wideout who possesses number one receiver traits. Penn State’s Chris Godwin and East Carolina’s Zay Jones offer that skillset, but I believe that Cal’s Chad Hansen is the best player based off of what the Chargers are looking for. He’s perfectly built for the outside, he produced as a number one receiver in college, he has reliable hands, the ability to go up and get the ball, and possesses legitimate 4.4 speed. In and ideal world, Hansen turns into a guy who stretches the field from the outside, runs excellent intermediate patterns, and whose mere presence gets Keenan Allen more one-on-one’s, but if Allen were to go down again, I have no questions about his ability to serve as the team’s top dog. Great value in the second round, all things considered.
Joe Barksdale is a nice player, but not someone who you want to rely upon starting for an extended period of time – at least as an offensive tackle. He needs to be upgraded and the Chargers can find that player in the third round. Western Michigan’s Taylor Moton should still be available for the Chiefs at 71st overall, and I believe that he will beat Barksdale outright for the starting right tackle position in training camp, if given the opportunity. Can’t ask for much more out of a third round pick – a day one starter.
The Chargers let Brandon Flowers go and are in need for another starter or at least some added depth at the cornerback position. Considering their history of rostering undersized corners (Flowers, 5-foot-9; Jason Verrett, 5-foot-10; Casey Hayward 5-foot-11), I believe that they will be able to get great value on another undersized corner in the fourth round. Corn Elder out of Miami is a feisty 5-foot-9, and plays with some excellent technique and toughness. His talent says second round, but his build will not be for all teams. Because of this, I believe that Elder will fall to day three and end up starting for the Chargers out of training camp.
With their remaining three picks, the Chargers will look to add more depth to the offensive line, improve on the defensive line and at linebacker. On the offensive line I like Miami’s David Sharpe, on the defensive line I like Michigan’s Ryan Glasgow, and for a late round linebacker I’ll include my favorite – Clemson’s Ben Boulware.
Oakland Raiders
2016 Record: 12-4
2017 Draft Picks: 24, 56, 88, 129, 168, 208, 242, 244
The Raiders were probably the league’s best “feel good” story because the NFL has wanted them to be good again for so long. While they came up short last year due to an unfortunate injury to star quarterback Derek Carr, going forward they are young and really talented; seemingly a roster ready to make a deep playoff run. The best way of getting over that hump is to add impact players in the draft and that is just what they will do this weekend.
Below I have narrowed down their top needs to the following positions in descending order, ranked by importance:
| Running Back, Inside Linebacker, Cornerback, Wide Receiver, Defensive Line |
Ideally here, the Raiders would like to add one of the top three running backs – Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, or Christian McCaffrey – but with all of them already off the board by 24, they will settle on the best linebacker still available – Zach Cunningham out of Vanderbilt. Cunningham is a sideline-to-sideline tackler with an aggressive play speed. He diagnoses plays quickly without hesitating his downhill momentum. His build offers a scheme and position versatile skillset, which will perfectly fit a Raiders linebacking corps that is currently lacking structure. His presence as a plug-and-play starter at any of the three linebacker positions will help give the rest of this position group shape.
While many see the loss of Latavius Murray as, well… a loss. If you know my feelings, you know that I view Murray’s departure as an addition by subtraction. Still though, the Raiders need a back to fill his starting void, and while I really like DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, they are complimentary options and spot starters at best. Likely still on the board for Oakland in the second round would be Oklahoma’s Samaje Perine, who while a bit on the slower side, still projects as an excellent NFL starter. While Washington and Richards offer more explosion and receiving help out of the backfield, Perine’s skillset is built more in the traditional sense of between the tackles running. Some have compared his game to Michael Turner, which would be more than the Raiders could ask for out of a second round pick, but I see a ceiling as high for him as Shaun Alexander. At the collegiate level, he was incredibly productive, eventually finishing as Oklahoma’s – a school that featured Adrian Peterson, DeMarco Murray, and Billy Simms just to name a few – all-time leading rusher, and never finishing a season below 12 rushing touchdowns. Keep in mind that he did this in just three seasons including two of which he was largely overshadowed by Joe Mixon’s presence. To say the least, I’m bullish on this big back.
The Raiders seem pretty set on the edges of the defensive line, but they could use some help on the interior. Alabama’s Dalvin Tomlinson is an NFL ready contributor and is one of the draft’s safest prospects. He projects as a defensive tackle in four man fronts, but he can also hold his own as a two-gapper when asked to line up as a 5-tech defensive end.
In the fourth, the Raiders need to find a corner because what they trotted out last season didn’t get the job done. Ideally a slot corner would be the fit here because they seem pretty set on the outside with David Amerson and Sean Smith. Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis makes sense here because while his talent is capable of the second round, his lack of size and recent arrest will likely knock him down a few rounds. Ultimately Lewis projects best inside and has the ability to start for any NFL defense right away. Provided he remains clean off the field going forward, he should make an immediate impact for Oakland.
Beyond the fourth, it is depth-filling time for the Raiders. Another offensive and defensive lineman would be nice in the later rounds, while the fifth round would be a place for them to take a value slot receiver. My favorite slot guy in the draft is the aforementioned Ryan Switzer out of North Carolina, however he will likely be off the board already. The Raiders consolation prize can potentially be Virginia Tech’s Isaiah Ford, who possesses third round talent but will be knocked because of a slow 40-time.
FANTASY BONUS
I am dedicating this section to not necessarily the likeliest of scenarios, however I plan on keeping it as realistic as possible. Essentially I want to give you an idea of what selection could end up being the most fantasy impactful for the 2017 season for each team in the division. It doesn’t have to be someone that I have discussed for the team above, but rather a realistic scenario in which the team picks a player who would be a fantasy ringer for 2017.
Denver Broncos
Depending which format you play, this answer can vary. Any of the tight ends listed can make an impact right away, while Ryan Switzer or Zay Jones would make almost immediate PPR impacts. Gun to my head though, I believe that Evan Engram would end up being the Broncos biggest rookie fantasy contributor because his athleticism and matchup nightmare in the middle of the field would be too much for opposing defenses to handle with Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders on the outside.
Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Mixon can help the Chiefs in multiple facets. If drafted, he would become their best and most consistent offensive weapon – yes, that is when taking into account the contributions of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.
I know I have said it several times over the last few months, but fantasy owners should keep a close eye on where Mixon ends up.
Los Angeles Chargers
Chad Hansen has the chance to develop into a number one receiver in this league and that would even be with a healthy presence of Keenan Allen. He’s big, fast, and an athletic leaper with reliable hands. Philip Rivers may learn to rely heavily on Hansen in his rookie season.
Oakland Raiders
Samaje Perine is one of my favorite players in this draft. He’s a load to handle at all levels of the field, while at 235 lbs. he still possesses the nimble feet to quickly change directions. Considering my projection for him was Shaun Alexander, you should know that I believe that he could score 27 touchdowns in a season – a then record number that Alexander reached in 2005 – given the right scenario.
